Today, it is Ahmedabad. A fortnight ago it was the smail town of Idar in Sabarkantha district which went through rioting and arson. In between, attempts have been made to create trouble in Nadiad and Dabhoi although these did not succeed.
It began rather modestly, though later to reflect a pattern, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad dug up some old cases of inter-religion elopements, distributed mischievous leaflets and organised a bandh in Nadiad town against "the Muslim conspiracy to lure away Hindu girls".
Earlier this week, the VHP tried to kick up trouble in Dabhoi town in Vadodara district by interfering in a friendship between a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy although their parents are business partners and had no objection.
In Ahmedabad, attempts were made to incite Muslims under the pretext of burning effigies of Nawaz Sharif in mixed localities. In Idar, violence and arson broke out during the Rath Yatra festival which was, incidentally, observed for the first time in the town's history.
Either directly or tacitly, the one organisation that comes into the picture everywhere is the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In Nadiad and Dabhoi, VHP men publicly owned up their actions. In Ahmedabad and Idar. Opposition leaders are pointing fingers at them, although the VHP savs it has nothing to do with what happened in these places.
VHP president Jaideep Patel has an explanation for everything About Dabhoi and Nadiad, he says, "People are bound to react because there is a conspiracy to increase Muslim population." As for the . controversial effigy burnings, he blamed "anti-social elements". And Idar? "It is the Congress, it is Amarsinh Chaudhary (former chief minister)", he says.
Regarding the current violence in Ahmedabad, Patel says it is a post-Kargil, ISI-sponsored conspiracy. "How can we be involved when more Hindus have been stabbed", he reasons. When pointed out that the police FIR in the Gomtipur violence on July 24 names a VHP activist and a BJP worker, he replies, "That must have been the Congress trying to fix us". About police officers privately naming the VHP, he says, "They are being vindictive."
Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya also absolves the VHP. "SO many cases have been filed in connection with the riots; and only in one case there is a passing mention of a VHP volunteer. So far no VHP involvement has been found as an institution," he says.
Police officers, however, say that it is the Hindutva elements who initially created trouble by mixing anti- Muslim slogans with effigy burnings, and it turned into violence because the government was slow to react. Now, the VHP has publicly demanded release of Hindus arrested in connection with the riots.
Police officers, and even BJP leaders, link the problem to a growing chasm between the BJP and the VHP. In fact, a VHP memorandum, submitted to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel about Ahmedabad incidents, makes interesting reading. It accuses the BJP government of giving "a free hand to pro-Pakistan elements", and allowing the police to "commit atrocities on Hindus".
Further, the memorandum asks the government not to act under the influence of the Minorities Commission, give up the façade of protecting minority interests, and even makes a sarcastic reference to "the BJP's Model State" - the term used by the BHP for Gujarat.
Haren Pandya, even while giving a clean chit to VHP, insists, "Whoever is involved in violence will be booked, irrespective of religion". As for the VHP's grievances, he was evasie, "Our priority is to restore peace". (Source: The Indian Express, 30 July, 1999)
II
While political parties are busy blaming each other for the Kargil conflict at national level, their party persons in Ahmedabad are holding each other responsible for the riots which have so far claimed seven lives. The two main parties are already looking for electoral gains from the present situation.
The BJP leaders say the Congress and Shankersinh Vaghela are behind the violence because they need to consolidate the Muslim vote. The Congress says that BJP and its affiliates are involved with an eye on Hindu votes.
The VHP blames it on the ISI says it is an attempt to restrict the post-Kargil advantage to the BJP .. The BJP (gives) its own reasons to blame it all on the Congress and party spokesman Bharat Pandya says the Congress started the blame game. "They started naming our people" ...
On being asked how and why was the ISI involved, he says: "To reduce the impact of Kargil. Two Dawood henchmen were caught sometime ago, a cache of arms and ammunition has been found and narcotics have been seized from various places. These are indications of ISI getting active". On Congress he says, "the party can have an interest in supporting anti-socials elements to garner Muslim votes".
When told that there was no direct evidence of Congress involvement, "We have never stated the Congress was'directly responsible. We have stated they could have reasons to be and that too after they blamed us first ... ", he asserts. (Source: The Indian Express, 1 August, 1999)
III
Although peace has returned to the city, road blocks put up at Shah Alam toll naka in the wake of the killing of a passerby near Shalimar cinema on July 28 still serve as a dubious 'Line of Control' between areas dominated by Hindus and Muslims.
Similar blockades have been raised at the other end of the area at Chandola Lake and at Meera Talkies crossroads which leads to Milatnagar slums. The blockades seem to have been placed for the dual purpose of providing security to the residents as well as checking undesirable elements.
Local councillor Badruddin Shaikh had approached the police for removal of the barriers, "but the police wanted us to take responsibility for any violence that might take place in the future", he said Residents point out that no road-blocks had been raised in other areas which witnessed clashes. Nor had the authorities sought such assurances from people elsewhere. (Source: The Indian Express, 7 August, 1999)
IV
Perceived for long as two sides of the same coin, the BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Gujarat now seem to be at loggerheads. Tension is building up between the two with the BJP Government trying to distance itself from its erstwhile saffron partner and, in the process, the VHP finding its influence over the Government diminishing.
Public utterances by both sides during recent communal disturbances in Ahmedabad ... brought to fore the ... tussle. When Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya confirmed the involvement of VHP and Bajrang Dal men in two incidents, he also said, "Those close to us think that just because we are in power, they can do anything and get away with it".
Earlier, the VHP, in a strongly worded memorandum to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, had alleged that Hindus were being victimised by police. Then came state BJP general secretary Gordhan Zadaphia's statement, complaining that the Congress was linking the party with the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. Explaining the VHP stance, state president Jaideep Patel asserted: "We are for Hinduism and we will oppose those working against Hindus, whether it is the BJP or the Congress ...
Differences between the BJP and the VHP had surfaced when the state government had converted the Minorities Board into a full-fledged corporation with a special corpus fund some months ago. Later, the Home Ministry and the VHP came to loggerheads over police postings and transfers. And then came the Ahmedabad violence.
... The state government agreed to set up a Gau Sewa Aayog but we demand that the Aayog be given a ministry status", asserted Patel ..
Pandya denied there were any problem between the BJP Government and the VHP, but parried further questions on the issue. At the same time, he maintained that the Government had acted and would continue to act objectively ... But the VHP nurses a sense of betrayal. Said a VHP leader, "We made the party what it is today ... Hindus are humiliated by the same Government". (Souce: The Indian Express, 11 August, 1999)
Instant 'Justice' in Jama Masjid
The walled city area is the oldest part if the capital but ... even the system of meting out justice: is as old as the place itself.
When 18-year-old Muhammad Abid went up to the minar of the Jama Masjid ... before the eve ning namaaz .. he was asked to come down ... When he did, (it was) alleged he (had) sexually harassed ... He was taken to the office of the Naib Imam and allegedly beaten up. Yahya Bukhari, son of the Imam, slapped the boy and tonsured his head ...
The created a furore in the neighbourhood and hundreds of residents gathered in front of the: Jama Masjid police station ...
The real issue is lost in the debate ... "Even if he had molested the lady, why was he not hamded! over to the police? Who is Bukhari to beat him up and to nsure him?" said an angry resident. Seeing the public: outrage, the local police ... has registered a case ... (Source: The Indian Express, 4 August, 1999)
'Possessed' Children Beaten to Death
In a bizarre incident, five 'possessed' chuldren were beaten to death by members of their own. family in Sherkot, Bijnore ... on Friday. The police have recovered the bodies of the victims. Five members of the family, including four women, have been arrested.
... Nazma, daughter of Mulhtar Ahmd had taken her three children to her father's residence ... The Children - Nisha (5), Nizamuddin (4) and Azam (3) -- were very naughty. (This was attributed to) some evil spell cast on them by their godmother.
The family then called a maulvi to exorcise the spirit. 'Wazifa' was performed under his guidance .... (After several days other police broke open the house to found profusely bleeding bodies of 5 minor younger sisters, Asma (16) and Afsana (10) ... on the floor, bearing several wounds ... (Source: The Hindustan Times, 25 July, 1999)
Father Kills Daughters for Rernaririage
Two girls were reportedly murdered by their father .. in: their Gokalpuri house in North Delhi. T'he, third daughter managed to escape. According to the police, Hamidullah returned home late last night and gave his daughters a capsule each to consume. Roshan (11) and Gulista (8) swallowed the tablets and fell unconscious.
Seeing the condition of her two sisters, the eldest daughter Majida (15) did not take the capsule ancl ran (out) and sought help. Hamidullah, who is absconding, reportedly wanted to remarry and saw his daughters as a hindraince. (Source: The Hindustarı Times)
Dancing to Prove Himself True Indian
Sallauddin Pasha, the 30-year-old Bangalore-based Bharatanatyam and Kathak exponent, has; vowed to idance till the Kargil conflict ends to show to the world that he is a true Indian ... (Source: The Indiar Express, 7 July, 1999)
